We would like to thank Tom Lyons, owner of Beso Del Sol, Dave Dawson manager and the entire staff for their efforts. Marker 8 manager Russ Latimer and Tom Gusman, manager of The Venue restaurant for their time and the incredible venue for an event. The delicious food was provided free by Leroy Selmons, Margarites and Serendipity Cafe, Costco furnished water and desserts. Of course, The Black Honkeys who never disappoint were the heros of the day, getting the crowd to donate over $600 by passing the hat (numerous times). BPFK was very fortunate to have so many businesses and individuals donate auction items which raised enough money to send 20 foster children to camp this summer. If you would like to help please go to www.bloomingplaceforkids.org to donate and if you missed the fun this year, we will do again next year!

Photography: Kristen Esposito

Photography: Kristen Esposito

9th Festival of Speed

Attendees enjoyed a gathering of the world’s finest and most exotic new and vintage automobiles, motorcycles and watercraft displayed in Vinoy Park overlooking sparkling Tampa Bay.

Photo: Michael Blitch Photography

Karyn Anjali

Karyn Anjali is a published author and Tampa Bay’s resident socialite spends time out and about attending events and supporting charities. A successful business owner of a custom jewelry line, Karysma, and a Real Estate Broker, writing remains a preferred hobby.

Born in Trinidad, and having lived in Toronto, London, Miami and Vancouver prior to moving here 9 years ago, she enjoys the small town feel within a large city with daily dynamic things happening. She has an MBA and a BA in Communication Arts.

Art and Diane Whitney

It has been a long and emotional month. We unfortunately endured the passing of Art’s thoroughly unique mother, Bernice. Amidst the sorrow, we began the arduous task of emptying her home. She lived in a small post-WWII home for over 50 years and it was filled to the brim with memorabilia. Every drawer, every closet, every corner, every nook and cranny was piled with stuff.

I read somewhere that when God calls a loved one home, he leaves a gift of memories in exchange. In Bernice’s case, it’s a gift that keeps on giving. We have come across a treasure trove of mementos (high school yearbooks, family photos, reunion nametags, even Art’s first Christmas stocking), but we have also come across the ridiculous (15 pairs of scissors, 30 nail files, a box of empty prescription bottles, hundreds of pens, thousands of empty bags). I joked that Bernice was about 3 years from being featured in an episode of Hoarders!

You are probably asking, “What does this have to do with cabinetry?” Well, stick with me. As I started taking an inventory of stuff in my own home, I realized that we have equal ridiculous numbers of things: 10 pepper grinders, 30 Christmas Villages, 50 salt and pepper sets, hundreds of gift bags, thousands of photos. The difference between Bernice and me is nothing more than good cabinetry. Art built me display cabinets to turn my “crap” into a “collection.” He has installed closet organizers to tame mass numbers of boxes, and a home office to house my hundreds of pencils, pens and scissors. He saved me from reality TV!

A-1 Custom Cabinets can do the same for you. We are your resource for artful organization and the masterful use of space. See how we helped others become clutter-free by visiting our website at www.A-1CustomCabinets.com. Then call us today for your free in-home (or office) consultation.

Dr. César Lara

We live in the Sunshine State, and summer is upon us. Do we get enough sunshine for our health? One would think that as much time as we spend in summer at the beach or pool, or just outside with friends, that we would get plenty of the all-important Vitamin D. But, we may not be correct in that assumption. First of all, why is that particular vitamin so important, and secondly, why are we not getting enough from being outside.

Vitamin D has always been known as “the sunshine vitamin”, and you probably know it’s important for bone health. But there are so many other reasons to include Vitamin D in your healthy goals. While it is not a “cure all” for diseases, a deficiency in Vitamin D is now known to be a contributing factor to heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer. A recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism indicates that there is a distinct correlation between Vitamin D deficiency and obesity, as low Vitamin D levels are prevalent in people with insulin resistance. Insulin resistance can be a warning sign of impending heart disease, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Now that we have scratched the surface of the importance, let’s look at the reasons why we don’t have enough.

Are you at risk for Vitamin D deficiency? Here’s a short questionnaire:

1. Do you use sunscreen?
2. Do you take a shower and use soap within 48 hours after sun exposure?
3. Do you soak up the sun through a closed glass window?
4. Do you drink at least 10 tall glasses of Vitamin D fortified milk daily?
5. Is your skin pigment darker than a very fair complexion?
6. Do you carry excess weight or fat pads?

While some of these questions may seem a little obvious, they do emphasize the reasons why we as a society, and maybe you, as an individual are low in Vitamin D.

1. Sunscreen is an absolute necessity to help prevent skin cancer, so never stop using it. However, sunscreen can lead to lack of production and absorption. An SPF of 8 can block as much as 95% Vitamin D absorption. Forty percent of your body would have to be exposed to the sun, without sunscreen, between 12 and 2, in order to get absorption of Vitamin D according to VitaminDcouncil.org. Their research indicates that the torso absorbs the most, then arms and legs, lastly hands and face.

2. There have been recent reports indicating that it takes the body up to 48 hours to fully absorb the majority of Vitamin D from the surface of your skin into the bloodstream. Claims have been made that washing your entire body with soap can reduce absorption rates. Water alone does not appear to have that effect. (Natural Society.com)

3. Vitamin D cannot penetrate glass, so if you do your sunbathing on a closed in porch or patio, you are not getting the benefits of the sun.

4. Ten tall glasses of milk per day is a tall order! While you have your Vitamin D for the day, you have increased your intake of sugars and fat.

5. According to Harvard University, people with darker pigmentation or more “melanin” have a great risk of Vitamin D deficiency. This natural sunscreen slows down the absorption of the vitamin from the sun.

6. Excess weight or fat areas decrease the ability to absorb the all important vitamin. May 1st Harvard newsletter indicates that excess weight and lack of Vitamin D go hand in hand.

Now you have reasons you need Vitamin D and reasons you may not have enough. To be sure, have your doctor do a routine blood test and make recommendations for you. Vitamin D supplements are inexpensive and easy to take. And the benefits to your health are huge! Enjoy your summer sunshine safely, and improve your overall health and well being with Vitamin D.

Dr. César A. Lara

César A. Lara, M.D. is a Board Certified family physician and a leading expert in the field of medicine, the treatment of obesity, and weight loss management. For more than 20 years, it has been Dr. Lara’s passion to become a positive force in America’s ever-growing obesity crisis…one patient at a time. Dr. Lara’s dream of helping men and women overcome diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, and other chronic conditions related to obesity was realized with the emergence of the César A. Lara, MD; Center for Weight Management as a premier weight loss center in Tampa Bay. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine, Dr. Lara is known for his strong personal faith and his generous contributions to the Tampa Bay community. Dr. Lara regularly appears on television as a medical contributor to Brighthouse Network’s Bay News 9 en Español and WTSP-TV Studio 10. He frequently participates in corporate health fairs promoting an active lifestyle and healthy weight loss options. He is the founder of St. Michael’s Free Clinic and Weight Away Tampa Bay, charitable organizations that provide free medical treatment to those who cannot afford it.

JoAnn Rooney

Two years ago, I helped a lovely young couple purchase their first home. Shortly thereafter, the wife quit her job since they were expecting their first baby. Less than a year later the husband passed away unexpectedly. His life insurance policy through his employer was soon gone after the burial expenses were paid. This young man left his wife and child unprotected and with nothing left to help pay for their mortgage and monthly bills. This family lost not only a father and a husband but they also lost the family bread winner.

This is a very important reminder to my clients to look at your life insurance and make sure you not only have coverage, but the right coverage. Many of my first time homebuyers are young which means your insurance will be less expensive at that time in your lives. We all need a trusted advisor to talk to about insurance to help us decide just how much and what kind of insurance we need. You should also have a will in place so that you can spell out your wishes if something happens to you.

When my husband and I were young and planning our first vacation without our children, we started to ask each other what would happen to our two children if we didn’t make it home? This led to a very spirited argument about which family member would raise the kids and how we could secure their future in the event something happened to us. We immediately asked some friends and family members about finding a trusted financial planner we could talk with about insurance and financial security. While on our way to our initial appoinment, I remember thinking this experience is going to be painful as well as painfully expensive. Neither was true. We left two hours later and ever since that day we both feel very secure knowing we are in good hands and have done everything we could do to prepare ourselves should anything catastrophic ever befall our family.

With our wills drawn up and insurance in place (disability and long term care as well), we were comfortable knowing that we would never be a burden to our kids and all of us were protected should anything ever happen. How many times have you heard someone say what wishes they want carried out are after they pass away? Put your wishes in writing! Get your affairs in order no matter what your age!

Getting on that plane and heading to Cancun, knowing we had gotten our affairs in order, made for a great start to our vacation. Over the years, we have watched our children grow up and leave the nest. We have tweaked our insurance policies since then but since that day, we are both comfortable knowing that we had a plan in place to take care of each other as well as our family.

Don’t put off taking care of your family another day and if you need a referral to a trusted financial planner or someone to draw up a simple will, please call or email me any time!

Call JoAnn Rooney today 727-787-2299 X 1
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Dr. James R. Pitts

Most people tend to think of financial planning as only building your wealth. All the thought and energy goes into accumulating money until you reach your “magic number” or retirement age. Through careful planning, saving and investing you can reach financial independence. All the hard work is over and now you just enjoy it, right? Not exactly.

An equal amount of planning and thought should go into the distribution phase of your financial life. People tend to think of their savings and investments as their “nest egg”. It is considered one giant pot of money that they now have to live on for the rest of their lives. In my opinion it should be considered as several “buckets” of wealth. We have the “qualified bucket” which contains all the IRAs, qualified retirement plans and pensions that one owns. Another bucket is the “non-qualified long term investments bucket”. This bucket holds our stocks, bonds and other investments which give us the potential for growth. We have already paid taxes on this money and it is there to help the portfolio increase over time. We also have our “conservative” money bucket. This bucket has money which is designed to pay out a certain amount. This bucket is usually used to plan for covering household expenses. Another bucket is the “short term bucket”. This bucket contains easily accessible money. It should be very liquid and can be used for emergencies and other special purchases.

Not only should one think about your “nest egg” as different buckets of money, but it is very important to consider which bucket to access at the proper time. Everyone’s financial situation is different. There are times when the traditional wisdom of financial planning doesn’t fit the particular situation. Please consult your financial advisor and tax professional before making any decisions on which money to choose at the proper time.

However, generally it is thought proper to first use the conservative money bucket to produce income that will cover household expenses. This produces a known quantity of income during retirement years. The non-qualified long term bucket is generally looked to next in order to supplement the income produced by the conservative bucket. Traditionally the qualified bucket is accessed later and certainly after the age of 59 ½. This is done to order to avoid any early withdrawal penalties and to allow for future tax deferred growth.

By carefully selecting which bucket you access first, you can better plan your income in retirement. As we see the income distribution phase of your financial plan is just as important as the wealth building phase.

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest……Benjamin Franklin
For any questions on income distribution, please contact James Pitts at 727-686-4068.
Happy Investing!!

Dr. James Pitts is a Registered Investment Advisor Representative and Financial Planner. He ran a successful dental practice for 25 years and by using financial planning techniques and investing wisely, he was able to retire at 51 financially independent and debt free. His passion is to help other people reach their financial goals and live the best life.

Call to schedule a free, no obligation consult or 2nd opinion.
Dr. James R. Pitts
727-686-4068
james.pitts@jwcemail.com

Festival of Speed Luxury Lifestyle Jet Port

On March 30th at Tampa International Jet Center, as part of Festival of Speed, guests experienced a fabulous display of vintage and contemporary aircraft, exotic cards, custom created motorcycles, high performance boats and the finest luxury products.

Photo: Don Shepherd XOPIXO Photography

Upcoming Events to Consider

In the next few weeks, Panache Vue’ is proud to sponsor the following local events and we hope to see you there!
April 21 – Margaritaville in the Tropics to benefit All Children’s Hospital at Nielsen in Oldsmar
April 22 – Golfing for Heroes at Countryside Countryclub
April 26 – Dining Out For Life, Dine Out. Fight AIDS. For a list of participating restaurants or to volunteer, visit www.DiningOutForLife.com/TampaBay
April 29 – Blooming Place for Kids Luau at Besa Del Sol Resort in Dunedin

Karyn Anjali

Karyn Anjali is a published author and Tampa Bay’s resident socialite spends time out and about attending events and supporting charities. A successful business owner of a custom jewelry line, Karysma, and a Real Estate Broker, writing remains a preferred hobby.

Born in Trinidad, and having lived in Toronto, London, Miami and Vancouver prior to moving here 9 years ago, she enjoys the small town feel within a large city with daily dynamic things happening. She has an MBA and a BA in Communication Arts.

If you’re looking to jazz up your wardrobe this spring, you may need to take a trip back in time to the 1920s. Much like the release of a 3D-enhanced version of Titanic in theaters this April, many of this season’s hottest looks could be considered a blast from the past with a modern twist.

Call it a “Roaring Twenties revival,” a resurgence quite possibly inspired by Hollywood’s fascination with the enchanting era that gave birth to a new type of woman—the fashionable flapper. In recent years, there’s been an increase in TV shows and films set in the 1920s, including HBO’s Boardwalk Empire and the highly anticipated Great Gatsby remake.

Along with entertaining audiences with their high drama, the projects—featuring award-winning costume designs—have made a major impression on the fashion world. This spring, designers like Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs and Alberta Ferretti have welcomed the trend by dusting their collections with flapper-like pieces, including dazzling dresses that feature 1920s-inspired beading, fringing and drop-waists.

And starlets like The Artist’s Bérénice Bejo, who wore several smart looks from the era in her Oscar-winning film, have been spotted striking a pose on the red carpet in Roaring Twenties reinterpretations from Gucci, Oscar de la Renta and Marchesa.

So if you’re ready to make a bold fashions statement this season, here are some ways to incorporate some trendy Gatsby-inspired pieces into your wardrobe and unleash your flapper spirit:

Drop It Like Its Hot
If you’re not completely sure you can pull off fringe or feathers, don’t despair. It’s still quite possible to roar into 1920s fashion. Simply look for a flowy frock with a deeply lowered waistline. Regardless of your body type, a drop-waist dress will flatter your figure while helping you stay right on trend.

Art Deco
The eclectic Art Deco style, which began in Paris in the 1920s and spread throughout the world throughout the 1930s, had a great influence on flapper fashion. Designers began incorporating the awe-inspiring Art Deco style—which represented elegance, glamour and modernity—into their glam garments by creating similar patterns with sequins, jewels and beads. Fortunately, it seems that history is repeating itself with this season’s collections! Designers like Matthew Williamson have created similarly stunning Art Deco-inspired looks that, like those of days gone by, will surely turn heads with every stylish step you take.

Pretty in Pastels

Donning a flapper-inspired dress in a bold, look-at-me hue like tangerine or coral not your thing? No worries! This spring, designers have incorporated another haute craze into their voguetastic 1920s-inspired looks: pastels. So if you’re hoping to give off a low-key, ladylike vibe, look for a flapper-like dress in a sweet sorbet shade. Not only will you flaunt your understated style, but you’ll show the world just how fashionable you are by rocking two trends at once.

Sleepeasy Style
Pajama dressing may have originated during the Jazz Age, but the lounge-in-style trend is making a colossal comeback. This spring, designers have captured the comfort of those silky separates that were popular in the 1920s and given them a street-friendly look. The end result: a sleepeasy style that will make an impression well beyond the bedroom.

No matter how you choose to integrate this spring’s haute flapper trend into your wardrobe, rest assured that you’ll be roaring with sophisticated style.

Tom Castañeda

Tom Castañeda is a creative writer, blogger, and award-winning broadcast journalist who has worked at Architectural Digest, In Touch Weekly, and Latina – a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle magazine for today’s bi-cultural Latina woman. Throughout his career in publishing, Tom has planned and executed numerous celebrity, fashion, and beauty programs throughout the country, including fashion shows, and shopping events for brands like Bloomingdale’s, Chanel, Mikimoto, David Yurman, Givenchy, Armani Fragrances, Macy’s, Southpole Collection, and more. Additionally, Tom has drawn on his strong journalism background to create various print, online, and video reports on various subjects, including fashion and beauty.

Gene McDonald - Photo: Lisa Sibley

PV: Why did you choose this business or line of work?
Gene: I love art and woodworking, especially fixing things.

PV: What is your primary role or duty in your company?
Gene: ALL phases, mainly project management and researching design trends.

PV:  What sets you apart from your competition?
Gene:  I personalize kitchens, baths and furniture. While many sell the most popular, I tend to attract those who want something which is not as popular. Recycled Glass, precious stone slab, and Paperstone; My own blend of Crystal top that customers can put whatever they want into the tops as well as backlight.

PV: What would you be doing now if it weren’t for your business, taking money out of the equation?
Gene: Helping people who need a chance in life, I don’t like to give hungry people fish too much; I’m one of those who would rather teach them how to fish.

PV: What do you do for fun?
Gene: WORK and Dance!

PV:  Who or what is most important to you, personally or professionally?
Gene: Personally it is my mom who passed away too young of Leukemia. I can actually feel my heart swell up as if she says, Keep doing the next right thing. She always told me to be kind, but not a doormat and make as many friends as possible (she would have loved Facebook). Professionally I want to always be able to give back, many of my heroes in Tampa Bay give back. They welcomed me to help out even though I did not have much money, I was able to offer my hands, my smile, my countertop scraps, and my shop to help inspire the Children of CASA, Boys and Girls Clubs and countless others. It feels like my Mom swells up my heart when I am around these people…It’s my own personal awesomistic feeling. I love life like crazy!

PV:  A little secret about you that would shock those who don’t know you!
Gene: I don’t drink alcohol, I don’t do Drugs, I don’t smoke Cigarettes and I love Hardcore Thrash Punk rock as well as Motown music. People always think I am on something because I enjoy wherever I am at. They spend big money on booze to act like me…LOL

PV: What are your personal and professional mottos?
Gene: Personal~ you cannot make a plant grow by pulling on it! Professional~ you cannot discover new oceans unless you have courage to lose sight of the shore.

PV: When you were five, what was your dream to be when you grew up?
Gene: Bruce Lee and a cartoonist

PV: Have you achieved all or most of your dreams thus far?
Gene: Yes, I am so glad I didn’t sign a contract because I achieved that dream 5 years ago. I am also grateful for all the friends and business I got. I feel that if my life doesn’t get any better than it is right now. I am ok with that. But I am Gene, Gene the dancing machine. Life is getting better by the minute…

About the President

Gene McDonald, President of Refresh Interiors Inc., is an active member of the Tampa Bay U.S. Green Building Council Chapter, the Florida Green Building Coalition, and the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA). As a countertop fabricator specializing in green products, McDonald has worked on many LEED-certified projects in the area. He has recently earned Master Fabricator status from Vetrazzo Recycled Glass Surfaces, a status reserved for fabricators who have fabricated 50 Vetrazzo jobs that have demonstrated superior craftsmanship. Since then McDonald has quadrupled that number! He also won the International Surface Design Expo’s Best Commercial Application Award in 2006 for his illuminated cobalt glass bar. In 2009, he won the Best Green Residential Kitchen award. He also won Best Green Small Application for his recycled paper toilet seat that glows in the dark. His top employee Hugh Simon won the Best Green Kitchen in 2010 and Best Design in Green Application in 2011. The newest edition of the Refresh Family, to lead the cabinet division is Chris Kessler. Master Cabinetmaker. Gene McDonald has spoken at The National Association of Home Builders and numerous Green Expos from Orlando to Las Vegas. Gene McDonald is proud to be what some call a Green Interior Artist. He shares his green projects with the world to smash the misconception that green design is bland and boring. His very own creation called Crystal Top was used in the upcoming film Step Up 4 from Touchstone Pictures.

“My love of food really starts with a love of eating and sharing the table,” professes the 47-year-old cookin g star who was born and raised in Colombia and lived in the Netherlands with her family before moving to Miami as an adult. “It was very important to my mother that we always share a meal at the table as a family.”

Ingrid Hoffmann

But Hoffmann’s mother—a Cordon Bleu-trained chef who ran a catering business from her home kitchen and later opened her own restaurant—did more than incite a passion for food in her daughter. Through hands on lessons, Yolanda Ibarnegaray taught Ingrid the art of cooking as a child.

“I used to pull up a little stool to the stove, so I could reach the range and cook steaks and shrimp,” recalls Hoffmann, who now cooks the food of 22 Latin countries, including Spain. “I’d make this shrimp dish—my father’s brandied shrimp recipe that today is a staple and still one of my favorite meals.”

It should come as no surprise that traditional children’s fare like chicken nuggets and fish sticks were never served in Hoffmann’s home.

“Kids who’d come to my house would comment on the strange food; and I never really understood why it was weird,” admits Hoffmann, who remembers eating Indonesian food for about a year after her mom spent time in the Southeast Asian country learning how to cook their cuisine.

“She had this rule that wherever we went in the world, she had to go to the market and a cooking class with a local chef. She always said that you learned so much about a culture through ingredients. Looking back now, it really was like the United Nations of food at our house!”

It’s no wonder Hoffmann—who isn’t a classically trained chef—began developing her own flavorsome recipes with a similar eclectic spirit.

“Ignorance has been bliss,” declares Hoffmann. “My mixes of food really are unorthodox, which may not have been the case had I been classically trained. Instead, I can just have fun creating foods with a great balance of textures, colors and flavors.”

It’s that mindset that led Hoffmann to open her own restaurant called Rocca, which was the first Miami eatery to feature tabletop cooking on heated lava rocks.

“It was an incredible experience; it helped me be taken seriously as a chef,” proclaims Hoffmann, who has no plans to open another restaurant anytime soon. “I wasn’t able to be creative and develop recipes. It was about running a business and dealing with the bank and employees. And, it just took all the fun out of cooking!”

But the restaurant experience did help Hoffmann break into television at a local Miami station, where she shared her recipes with the public. That would lead to regular cooking segments on Univision’s morning show and a series of multi-page culinary stories in Buen Hogar, the Spanish version of Good Housekeeping.

“When I first started, no one was really focused on Latin food,” states Hoffmann, who launched her bilingual Delicioso brand with Simply Delicioso on the Food Network and the Cooking Channel, as well as Un Minuto Delicioso on Galavision. “My philosophy is everyday food with a Latin twist, something people can easily prepare that’s healthy and fresh. I believe in trying to eat as natural as possible, but with great flavor!”

That commitment to healthy cooking with comfort and ease led to Hoffmann partnering with T-Fal to develop her own Latin-influenced cookware and appliance line, Simply Delicioso by Ingrid Hoffmann, which includes a paella pan, calderos of different sizes and a pressure cooker.

“My cookware line comes from the same place as my recipes; I’m all about practical living,” asserts Hoffmann. “I’m always thinking about how to make life easier… how to help people save time and money and still eat healthy.”

It’s a never-ending mission for the hard-working Hoffmann, who is currently writing a book that she calls “very personal” while developing appetizing recipes and culinary content for her multi-platform Delicioso brand. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s not glamorous work; it’s a lot of sacrifice,” states Hoffmann. “But I do it for so many hours a day because I love what I do!”

It’s that commitment to sharing her passion for cooking and entertaining with the world that has made Hoffmann simply the best bilingual expert in Latin cuisine.

Tom Castañeda

Tom Castañeda is a creative writer, blogger, and award-winning broadcast journalist who has worked at Architectural Digest, In Touch Weekly, and Latina – a fashion, beauty, and lifestyle magazine for today’s bi-cultural Latina woman. Throughout his career in publishing, Tom has planned and executed numerous celebrity, fashion, and beauty programs throughout the country, including fashion shows, and shopping events for brands like Bloomingdale’s, Chanel, Mikimoto, David Yurman, Givenchy, Armani Fragrances, Macy’s, Southpole Collection, and more. Additionally, Tom has drawn on his strong journalism background to create various print, online, and video reports on various subjects, including fashion and beauty.